290 ROOMS PLANTS IN ROOMS. 



sickly. Therefore, have them always placed as near the 

 light as possible, and receive as much air as can be admitted, 

 when the weather will allow, and occasionally, in fine days, 

 carry them out of doors, and give them a sprinkling of water 

 all over. 



2d. Injurious watering does more injury to plants in rooms 

 *,han many persons imagine ; and it is very often to be ob- 

 served that some individuals destroy all with too much, and 

 others kill all with too little of that nourisher of health. To 

 prevent the soil ever having a dry appearance is an object of 

 great importance in the estimation of many : they, therefore, 

 water to such an excess that the soil becomes sodden, and 

 the roots consequently perish. Others, as we have said, run 

 to the opposite extreme, and do not give sufficient to sustain 

 life, and this is a more common practice than that of too much. 

 The best plan is, always to allow the mould in the pot to have 

 the appearance of dryness, but never sufficient to make the 

 plant droop before a supply of warer is given, which should 

 then be copious and thoroughly going to the bottom of the 

 pot; but always empty it out of the saucer or pan in which 

 the pot stands : the water used should always be of about *he 

 same temperature as that in which the plants grow; avoid 

 using it fresh from the pump. 



3d. Being over-potted in unsuitable soil. This is also a 

 crying evil, and large pots invariably given to weak plants, 

 with the view of causing them to grow; but such practitioners 

 are like the unskilful physician who gluts the weakly stomach 

 of his patient, only hastening on what they are trying to pre- 

 vent. With weak plants the very reverse should be practised, 

 giving small pots to encourage their roots outward : whereas, 

 the earth in a large pot to a small plant, with frequent water- 

 ings, soon becomes sour and stagnated, and utterly obnoxious 

 to the roots of even the strongest growing plants. If the 

 directions and table of soils, in this work, are properly followed 

 up, unsuitable soils will rarely occur, especially when each 

 genus is separately treated. 



In fact, we have yet to be convinced why all plants, with 

 the exception of a few tropical, and those belonging to Eri- 

 cece and JZpacridece, will not grow and bloom well in rooms 

 and windows. With the following monthly instructions, 

 and executipg them properly, failure will seldom occur; but 

 where failure bhoulU occur, we would rail particular attention 



